Well, you are wondering, is peanut butter fattening or fine for a diet you may be doing? In this post, I am going to answer your question in as much detail as possible. I will be listing some of the ingredients and what they mean to your diet.
One thing before I start, I feel I must mention that the cheaper the product, then, the lower the actual peanut content will be. Hence, the higher the number of additives. Such as things to make it taste better etc.
So, hopefully, by now, you will have looked at possible food suggestions or maybe have even gone out and bought some of these foods to prepare healthy recipes for breakfast, and perhaps you have even gone as far as getting some healthy foods for lunch too?
Research
Failing this, you may still be in the research stage, which is fine. And I am thrilled in this case that you are indeed trying to find this information out for yourself.
As I will say in other posts, research is your friend. And I have also quoted Winston Churchill as saying, “Fail to prepare, prepare to fail” This ex-British prime minister could not have been more right, especially when it comes down to reading all about what to eat and lose weight.
The Ingredients vary tremendously in peanut butter, so much, so you need to be aware of what you are buying to put into your precious engine, your body. From this comes everything we do, like an engine, it needs servicing and a regular refuel. So treat it with respect and put the best “fuel” (foods) in it that you can.
For starters, tasty peanut butter indeed should not contain any salt whatsoever. So if it does (If you READ the label), then you know right from the get-go that it is a wrong product so put it back on the shelf and steer well clear of it
Energy In Peanut Butter
A 100-gram jar of peanut butter contains just under 2465 kilojoules, which is just under a fifth of what the average 18+-year-old needs energy-wise per day to consume. So I would have to say this is quite a lot of energy.
A kilojoule is the amount of energy. When you apply a force of 1 newton through the distance of 1 meter, if you would like to read more on kilojoules, then please go here for further reading.
Protein In Peanut Butter
It has around 25 grams of protein in it, which will mean that a quarter of the peanut butter is protein, and this is great. Please know this, protein is an essential part of absolutely any diet. Whether you are trying to lose weight or eat healthily. It is a must.
You must also remember this fact, protein-rich foods (such as eggs) do fill you up; thus, when you are feeling full, it will keep you away from finding other sources of foods which will usually tend to be junk food anyway. So, staying off/away from these means that you will gain no extra weight at all.
Also, if it is that you do work out a little or a lot, then protein also helps to build and repair the muscles.
Vitamins In Peanut Butter
Peanut butter contains several of the vitamin B’s and in particular, Niacin. It also contains some vitamin E. There have been many reports of niacin helping to relieve the symptoms of arthritis. As well as motion sickness, insomnia, high cholesterol, memory loss, and decline. Yes, it really can help all of these things.
Minerals In Peanut Butter
The none salted variety should contain 0 mg of sodium. (salt) As I have previously alluded to if it includes, so do NOT eat it. Peanut butter also contains –
- Potassium
- Iron
- Manganese
- Zinc
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Phosphorous
- Water
Well, is peanut butter fattening? Peanut butter does have its percentage of saturated fats. And it is also high in unsaturated fats too, which ensures its place as being healthy food for the heart believe it or not!
Although peanut butter does bring a high number of calories, the reason that that peanut butter spreads worry for many people is the quantity of saturated fat it contains. Saturated fat, as we may have previously heard/read, was the evil stuff responsible for heart disease. But in truth, is peanut butter fattening?
Well, I will say this. It is nowhere near as bad as first thought now that research continues, using more techniques.
Are Monounsaturated Fats Bad For You? Is Peanut Butter Fattening?
Peanut butter contains a high amount of goods fats, these being mono-unsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. We are also aware of these fat’s having the capacity to lower cholesterol, as well as having anti-inflammatory properties to them.
So when it comes down to it, please be wary of going for the low-fat variety of this product. As often, what takes the place of the fats are sugars. That is to sweeten it. And there are harmful partially hydrogenated fats in it.
In times gone by, our parents and schools did think that they were doing the correct thing by giving the taste of peanut butter but in a low-fat form. THAT IS NOT THE CASE. So, is peanut butter fattening? Hmm.
However, please learn from this lesson and eat “normal” peanut butter. It is not as bad for you as one may think. But, like all things, you must eat wisely. Eat it in moderation.